Pent, the European design house known for its highly stylized and customized take on fitness equipment, now intends for its imaginative aesthetic to help shape up your sound system with the recent debut of Pent Audio. Its nascent model line comprises three distinct loudspeaker systems, each a commissioned product embodying sculpted refinement.
Pent founder Marcin Raczek sees these components as “a chapter in a larger story, where design, movement, and ritual coexist.” Part of that story is tied to the legacy of Pent itself, according to Raczek, who asserts that the avant-garde speakers “echo the same generational artistry that defines our heritage in Poland.”
The Pent Gulia, priced from $7,200 to $8,700 (depending on the selection of materials), is the most arresting of the trio, the other two being the floor-standing Aurora and Chiara models. By contrast, Gulia projects its generous sound from a conical enclosure—measuring 27 inches in diameter—levitating atop a nine-inch-diameter cylinder. The latter functions as a base, as well as housing for the system’s electronic circuitry and dedicated woofer.
Looking unlike any conventional loudspeaker, Guila offers a welcome alternative to box enclosures that dominate a room.
Courtesy of PENT. Audio
Yet the real virtue of Gulia is that it doesn’t require a stereo pair. Standing alone as a single loudspeaker, it’s still able to create a fully immersive stereophonic sonic image. The 6.5-inch woofer, located in the base, is powered by an 80-watt Class-D amplifier, while two four-inch midrange drivers and two silk- dome tweeters are also each powered by a dedicated Class-D amplifier.
The satisfaction derived from Gulia comes not just from its sound but from the tactile pleasure found in the array of materials, such as natural wood, premium leather, acoustic fabric, and metal accents in stainless steel or gold coating. Uniquely, clients can select the handcrafted assortment of their choice or decide from four suggested combinations that best showcase Gulia’s sleek design. The cylindrical base can be specified in American walnut, natural ash, oak, or black ash, with the speaker’s leather-wrapped enclosure offered in white, two beige tones, and black. Grille fabric complements in black and gray or light beige.
As for wireless connectivity, that’s accomplished via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or streaming services such as Apple AirPlay, Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, and internet radio. There will also be the Pent Audio app (currently in development) providing full system control and multiroom streaming, which allows Gulia (as well as the Aurora and Chiara) to work in a whole-house environment—telling Pent’s complete audio story in the process.
Authors
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Robert Ross